2009

2009

What a wonderful new year we have ahead of us. We all have great anticipation of what our new President, Barack Obama, will accomplish. Our prayers to him, that he has the wisdom and courage and God’s guidance to lead this great nation.
Here in Arizona, we congratulate Gov. Janet Napolitano for being selected as Secretary of Homeland Security. We also are grateful that Secretary of State Jan Brewer is so well-prepared to assume the role as governor of Arizona.
There are some real challenges for the United States of America from the federal government right down to the small-town politics here in Tucson and Pima County.
Let’s start at the bottom. Tucson just can’t get its priorities straight. We can bond $7.6 million for solar panels on government buildings but refuse to hire enough police to stop the rampant crime that plagues our city. Recycling garbage bags seems to have a higher priority than creating a business-friendly community that will attract jobs and foster prosperity for our families. Rio Nuevo Tax Increment Financing is in great jeopardy of being pulled because of lack of a clear plan and the absence of transparency of past and current spending. The Mayor and City Council must re-evaluate their priorities to address current and future needs of our community.
Pima County just spent $18 million to buy another ranch so cattle can no longer graze and by doing so, eliminated another piece of property from our tax rolls. Surely during economic hard times, Pima County government could spend less on buying land so we and our children cannot live on it and provide more needed services like public safety, roads, parks and perhaps even invest in economic development. Major League Baseball spring training might have remained in Pima County with a 18 million dollar investment.
The towns of Marana, Oro Valley and Sahuarita seem to be doing a better job taking care of business than the two 800-pound gorillas, Tucson and Pima County.
Jan Brewer has a bittersweet gift of inheriting the job as governor. The party is being spoiled by an unwanted substance floating in the celebration punch bowl, a tremendous budget deficit. We are fortunate that we elected legislators that are willing to do what is necessary to cut expenses, while keeping the state ship afloat. Their job has to be one of the most difficult tasks for any elected officials. We encourage them to keep their resolve.
Nationally we wanted change. I hope the folks we elected to lead the greatest nation on Earth remember our heritage of asking God for guidance and then doing the right thing..
Financial instability can always be overcome with hard work, prudent spending and patience. World unrest is another matter. We are seeing Bible prophecy unfolding in the Middle East right in front of our eyes. Israel is being faced with animalization by much more than the nuisance of Hamas. Iran is about to become a nuclear power. Its leaders are bent to destroy Israel entirely. Allies like Russia, Syria and others illustrate a mirror image of the story in the Bible book of Revelation about Armageddon. What will we do?
This is some real serious stuff, isn’t it? A lot heavier than fixing potholes and paying the bills. What all elected officials have in common is that God himself has a hand on them and for that we are grateful.
More good news is that we live in America where we have the opportunity to actively participate in the process of government. With that comes the responsibility to not only voice our opinion, but to lift up and elect the people to government that best represent our values.
With all that said, I anticipate that even with all the seemingly insurmountable challenges we face that with the Lord’s help, 2009 will be a wonderful year.